Omaha Hi-Lo (also known as Omaha/8 or better) is commonly viewed as one of the most complicated but popular poker games. It’s a game that, even more than regular Omaha poker, invites play from all levels of players. This is the primary reason why a once obscure game, has grown in acceptance so amazingly.
Omaha/8 begins just like a normal game of Omaha. 4 cards are dealt to each player. A round of betting ensues in which players can bet, check, or fold. 3 cards are dealt out, this is known as the flop. A further sequence of betting ensues. Once all the players have either called or dropped out, a further card is revealed on the turn. Another sequence of betting happens at which point the river card is flipped. The players will have to make the best high and low 5 card hands based on the board and hole cards.
This is where a number of entrants get baffled. Unlike Holdem, where the board can be everyone’s hand, in Omaha hi-low the player must use exactly three cards from the board, and exactly 2 hole cards. No more, not a single card less. Unlike normal Omaha, there are two ways a pot could be won: the "high hand" or the "low hand."
A high hand is just what it sounds like. It’s the best possible hand out of every player’s, regardless if it is a straight, flush, full house, etc. It is the same approach in almost all poker games.
The lower hand is more complicated, but certainly opens up the play. When deciding on a low hand, straights and flushes don’t count. the lowest hand is the weakest hand that could be made, with the worst being made up of A-2-3-4-5. Since straights and flushes don’t count, A-2-3-4-5 is the worst possible hand. The lower hand is any 5 card hand (unpaired) with an eight and lower. The low hand wins half of the pot, as just like the higher hand. When there is no lower hand presented, the high hand takes the whole pot.
It may seem difficult initially, after a couple of rounds you will be agile enough to get the basic subtleties of play with ease. Seeing as you have people betting for the low and wagering for the high, and seeing as such a large number of cards are in play, Omaha hi low provides an overwhelming assortment of betting choices and owing to the fact that you have numerous individuals battling for the high, and many trying for the low. If you like a game with a lot of outs and actions, it is worth your time to compete in Omaha 8 or better.
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